HARDING UNIVERSITY at DALLAS BAPTIST
September 4 | Patriot Soccer Field  
 
MULTIMEDIA COVERAGE: 
Video: Patriot Broadcasting Network
Livestats: DBU Livestats
Facebook: DBU Athletics
 
BACK ON THE PITCH:
The Dallas Baptist Men's Soccer Team opens its third season as a member of NCAA Division II in the Heartland Conference, when they welcome Harding University to Patriot Field on September 4.  Kickoff is slated for 7 pm.
 
Despite a fifth place predicted finish in the preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors, the Patriots are looking on building from a 6-9-1 campaign and a 4-4-1 mark in conference action.  DBU went 3-5 in one-goal games in 2013, including two matchesin which they were defeated in overtime.
 
While a steady defense remained in place last year, DBU increased its scoring output from 14 to 31 in the program's second season.
 
LEADING THE OFFENSE:
Junior Brian Robertson will hope to build on a career campaign.  The Midlothian, Texas, native boasted personal and team-highs with 24 points, seven goals, and 10 assists.  His success garnered the midfielder NCCAA First Team All-Region and Second Team All-Heartland Conference honors.
 
Senior David Balyeat has also been a threat to score, posting five goals in each of his two seasons at DBU.   A transfer from Mississippi College, Balyeat led the squad in goals and points during the Patriots' first year as a Division II program in 2012.  Last season, the midfielder ranked second on the team in scoring, totaling 14 points and five goals. For his efforts, Balyeat earned the nod on the NSCAA All-South Region Second Team, was named First Team All-Heartland Conference, and was also recognized on the NCCAA Central All-Region Team.
 
The offensive duo of Robertson and Balyeat is joined by 18 other returning lettermen that should form a cohesive unit of veteran talent.  Nine newcomers also expect to be competing for playing time on the field as well.
 
DEFENSIVE-MINDED:
Junior Chuck Schober and sophomore Mason Stringer combined to put together strong campaigns for DBU in the net as goalkeepers in 2013.  The pair combined to help the Patriots rank second in the conference with 48 saves versus league opponents, averaging 5.33 per game.  Only McMurry was higher with 63 overall. 
 
Schober has suited up 26 times in his Patriot career, including 10 last season.  The native of McKinney, Texas, collected 43 saves and holds 107 in his career.  Schober has also combined for a 1.93 goals allowed average and has worked 2,333:42 minutes through both campaigns.
 
Also receiving time between the posts was Stringer.  The rookie from Burleson, Texas, played in seven contests in 2013, starting six of them.  Through 598:10 minutes, Stringer allowed 12 goals, while grabbing 36 saves to finish 3-2-1.  He also garnered the only shutout for DBU; a 4-0 victory at McMurry.
 
SCOUTING THE BISONS:
Harding University begins their 15th season, and will be seeking its fourth season opener victory in program history.  The last time that Harding opened the year with a victory came in back-to-back seasons in 2011 and 2012.  Prior to the Bisons season opening win in 2011, the last Harding victory to start as year came in 2000, when they defeated Williams Baptist 5-2 in 2000, for the first victory in program history.
 
Harding is coming off a 2013 campaign in which they posted a 6-8-2 overall record and 3-6 mark in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.  The Bisons were selected fifth in the preseason poll this year.
 
Nine starters off last season's squad return, led by Ian Park; HU's top scorer with six goals, which adds to his career totals of 11 and 26 points. Christopher Walker has five career assists to lead the Bisons in that category.
 
SERIES HISTORY:
These squads met last season in Searcy, Arkansas, with DBU claiming a 3-2 victory.  In last year's meeting, a pair of goals erased Harding's early advantage, giving the road team a 2-1 edge going into halftime. Sophomore Riley Alvey scored his first collegiate goal in his debut and Balyeat punched in the go-ahead score at the time.  Balyeat also had an assist on the first scoring tally to match him with a game-high three points.
 
Harding tied the affair at the 77:51 minute mark on an excellent sequence that involved a goal from Jackson Buchanan and assists from Jeremy Rector and Ryan Wilhelm.
 
Departed senior, Rodrigo Barrientos, responded with a game-winner in the 84th minute to send the Patriots to an 1-0 start in 2013.
 
WORTH NOTING:
Thursday marks the first home opener for DBU since becoming a member of Division II.  Last year, the Patriots posted a 4-3 record at home.  This year's season opener will be a treat for the fans, as DBU plays at the newly renovated Patriot Soccer Field, featuring 400 chairback seats and a state of the art pressbox .   
 
Last season, the Patriots opened the first six games on the road before hosting McMurry in a non-conference match towards the end of September.  DBU takes to the pitch in the friendly confines three times this month.

Through two seasons, DBU has participated in 18 contests decided by one goal, and has been involved in one tie per campaign.
 
UP NEXT:
Dallas Baptist wraps-up the home stretch with a Saturday morning contest versus Colorado Christian University at 11 am.